Tag Archives: Australian Cars

Say hello to the Thunder from Down Under. Most people, including me, had never heard of this car. Chrysler used to sell their own homegrown cars in Oz–and this is one of the most desirable. Here we find a 1972 VH Valiant Charger, with its very own, never-seen in America Hemi-head inline six. These were potent, rare, and valuble cars in their day, and are seldom seen now. That this one is in America is an even larger oddity as it looks to be similar in size to a Dart, but is shaped like a Cricket, and has the name of an intermediate. Enjoy the photos of this “shrimp on the barbie” mini muscle car. Continue reading Chrysler VH Valiant Charger at the 2018 Sunday In The Park at Lime Rock→

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America’s two biggest contributions to the automotive world are the pickup truck and the muscle car. In Australia, GM makes a vehicle, called a ‘Ute, that is a perfect mix of the two, a muscle car with a pickup bed. The Holden HSV Maloo GTS is the ultimate ‘Ute, equipped with a 570hp supercharged LSA V8 under the hood.

Frankly, the HSV Maloo GTS is the most American car I can possibly imagine, but thanks to GM’s bean counters, it and all of the other ‘Utes have never been sold stateside. Idiocy, I know, and it’s extremely frustrating.

The HSV Maloo GTS marks the end of the current model, so hopefully GM may reconsider bringing the ‘Ute back to America with the next generation. We need a new Chevrolet El Camino. And if GM’s people cannot see the demand for such a car, then they clearly don’t understand the American market very well.

For now, though, just enjoy watching Chris Harris flog the Holden ‘Ute around on the track!